I held onto my little cousin's hand as we walked by the carnival games.
"Nathan, stay close. I don't want you getting lost."
"Okay, Madie," he nodded.
I turned my head every so often to make sure I still had a grip on the nine year old's hand.
"Nathan, what ride do you wanna go on?" I asked as I crouched down to be at the same eye level as him.
"Hmmmm, can we go on one of the big rides?"
"Anyone you want," I smiled.
His eyes wondered around the large carnival. He walked in a small circle as he gazed at every ride that lit up in the dark evening.
He finally stopped his movements & pointed, "That one."
I looked at the direction where his finger pointed to.
My eyes widened as I saw the spinning object, thousands of screams coming from the contraption. I felt my stomach turn over as I stared at the ride.
I had always hated it since I was Nathan's age. The first time I ever rode on it I threw up my lunch. I remembered how muggy & hot it felt being inside as the metal doors would shut & the ride would begin.
"Ummm, are you sure?" I asked, hoping his answer was a negative.
Instead, his head nodded up & down as a smile spread across his face.
"Come on, Madie."
He held onto my hand and basically drug me to the end of the line of the ride. The line wasn't as long as I thought it'd be but it was still a lot of people.
I watched as the oval shaped, metal contraption came to a slow stop. The metal door opened & kids & teenagers walked out, rocking back & forth.
They made their ways out of the ride & out the exit. As the last kid left, one of the crew members opened the gate for the entrance.
Kids & teenagers entered & walked up the steps to the ride. Every time someone else would go in I would feel my stomach becoming more sick & my heart race increasing.
It was finally our time to walk up until the crew member held out his arm against Nathan.
"I'm sorry little guy but you're too small for this ride."
My heart race slowed down as I made out what he had said.
"Aww, I'm sorry Nathan. Looks like we're going to have to go on something else."
His eyes dropped & his smile turned into a frown.
He looked back to the crew member & begged, "But what if she comes on with me? Can I go on then?"
The crew member took a few moments to think then nodded his head.
I felt my stomach become sick again as Nathan pulled me inside the ride. He lead me to a platform that had a few spaces free by it.
I laid my back against the wall as did Nathan. He let go of my hand & held them to his sides.
I let out a groan as more people entered the enclosed area. The heat in the room began to rise as the music became louder.
I watched as a group of boys, who had to be around my age, walked in the entrance. Each boy laid on a platform next to each other, except for one.
This one boy stood out from the rest. I don't know if it was his curls or what but he was just unique.
The rest of the boys gave him a signal to lay next to a girl who was a few feet away from them.
